Healthcare Social Workers Salary
In West Virginia, healthcare social workers earn $60,140 at the median, or about $28.92 an hour. The range runs from $46K at the entry level to $80K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.03), which stretches that salary to about $67,550 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,008/month, or 25.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across West Virginia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $60K get you in West Virginia?
About healthcare social workers
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What this looks like in West Virginia
Pay for healthcare social workers in West Virginia runs about 11% below the U.S. median of $68K. Rent runs $1,008/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.03 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, West Virginia
Entry-level healthcare social workers (10th percentile) start around $46K. Mid-career wages sit at $60K. Top earners bring in $80K or more, a $34K spread from bottom to top.
Healthcare Social Workers salary by metro in West Virginia
7 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parkersburg-Vienna | $63K | +6% | 70 |
| Charleston | $62K | +4% | 150 |
| Huntington-Ashland | $62K | +3% | 320 |
| Wheeling | $61K | +1% | 100 |
| Morgantown | $60K | -1% | 160 |
| Beckley | $59K | -1% | 90 |
| Weirton-Steubenville | $58K | -4% | 50 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when West Virginia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a healthcare social worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in West Virginia?
Yes — at the median salary of $60K, rent takes 25.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,008/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for healthcare social workers in West Virginia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new healthcare social workers typically earn — is $46K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,767/month. At HUD’s $1,008/month FMR, rent would take 36% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is healthcare social worker a high-paying job in West Virginia?
Local pay runs 11% below the national median — $60K here vs. $68K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does West Virginia compare to the national average for healthcare social workers?
West Virginia pays $60K median vs. the U.S. average of $68K — that’s -11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.03), the purchasing-power equivalent is $68K — below the national median.
How much do healthcare social workers make in West Virginia?
The median is $60,140 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $46,120, and experienced healthcare social workers can clear $79,800. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $60K enough to live in West Virginia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,014/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,008/month, which eats 25.1% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a healthcare social workers salary go in West Virginia?
West Virginia has a Regional Price Parity of 89.03 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median healthcare social workers salary is worth about $67,550 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do healthcare social workers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.